DeGrom, Cool and Consistent, Helps Mets End Losing Streak

By Tim Rohan

July 23, 2014

SEATTLE — In recent weeks, the Mets discussed and debated what to do with Jacob deGrom. Over his first 12 major league starts, he had established himself as one of their better pitchers. But he is young, only 26, and has been on an innings limit.

He, perhaps better than anyone else, represented the Mets’ current in-between state. All season, they had straddled the line between wanting to win now and building toward the future. They needed deGrom’s arm now, and for it to be healthy in years to come, so they considered skipping one of his starts or moving him to the bullpen.

The only reason the Mets left deGrom alone, Manager Terry Collins said, was that he had been too valuable, too impressive. The Mets were still evaluating their chances this season. But maybe they would reconsider deGrom in a few weeks.

“We don’t need to have another Matt Harvey on our hands,” Collins said, referring to the 25-year-old pitching star who has been out all season recovering from elbow surgery.

After deGrom turned in another dominant start Tuesday night, perhaps it was time to mention him alongside Harvey and Zack Wheeler. DeGrom held the Seattle Mariners to one run in seven innings and struck out seven batters, leading the Mets to a 3-1 win at Safeco Field and ending their three-game losing streak.

Thus continued deGrom’s quiet emergence as one of the best rookies in baseball. His 3.01 earned run average was now the second lowest in baseball among rookie starters with at least 80 innings pitched. He trailed only Masahiro Tanaka of the Yankees. The first batter deGrom faced Tuesday, Endy Chavez, singled to center field, and deGrom promptly retired the next 11 batters in order. Twice in that span, he struck out Robinson Cano swinging with his changeup, the pitch Johan Santana taught him.

“With a lot of lefties in the lineup,” deGrom said, “good night to have my changeup being really good.”

Along with the changeup, deGrom (4-5) located his fastball and mixed in his slider. Then his competitiveness took over. In the fifth, after Dustin Ackley ripped a hanging slider for a run-scoring double, deGrom retired the next two batters to strand Ackley. In the sixth, after catcher Travis d’Arnaud missed a pop-up in foul territory, deGrom struck out Corey Hart, freezing him on a low, well-placed fastball to end the inning.

On his last batter, deGrom struck out Mike Zunino, swinging at one last changeup. DeGrom wore a cold, determined look as he walked off the mound. He had thrown 107 pitches, 78 for strikes, while only issuing one walk. This was not his best start of the year, but he has become so consistent it was hard to choose one over another.

Over his last six starts, deGrom has posted a 1.59 earned run average.

Even with his dominant start, the Mariners were within striking distance. Their starter, Erasmo Ramirez, a 24-year-old Nicaraguan who entered the game with a 4.58 E.R.A., toyed with the Mets, tying his career high with 10 strikeouts.

The Mets’ only two runs off Ramirez came on a somewhat fortunate break in the second, when James Jones, the Mariners’ center fielder, misplayed a fly ball from d’Arnaud. As Jones slid, the ball rolled past him, a run scored, and d’Arnaud reached third. Three batters later, Ruben Tejada singled d’Arnaud home.

Once Ramirez was pulled, Lucas Duda launched a solo home run, his team-leading 15th on the season, well over the right-field wall. The Mets could breathe easier with a two-run lead. DeGrom smiled in the dugout, his job well done.